Oxytocic effects of the water extract of Musanga cecropioides R. Brown (Moraceae) stem bark

Musanga cecropioides (Umbrella tree) is one of the medicinal plants used in tropical parts of Africa for its oxytocic, hypotensive and antidiabetic activities. This work examined the effect of the water extractof the stem bark on rat uterus pre-treated with 1 mg/kg stilboesterol for 24 h. The effects of oxytocin-a uterine contraction agonist, antagonists like atropine (1-2 mg) and salbutamol (2 ìg) on the uterinecontractile effect of the water extract as well as its acute toxic effect were investigated. The water extract of M. cecropioides produced a dose related increase in the force of uterine contraction. An equivalent force of uterine contraction of 1.10 ± 0.15 g produced by 12.5 mg of the extract wasincreased to 2.53 ± 0.6 g when 1600 mg of the extract was administered. Oxytocin at 0.08 i.u. was observed to elicit a similar force of contraction with 400 mg of the water extract. The drug was observed to potentiate the uterine contractile activity of the extract while pre-treating the tissue with either atropine or salbutamol before administering the water extract showed the inhibitory effects of the drugs on the activity of the extract. The inhibition effect showed by atropine suggests the probable stimulation of the muscarinic receptors of the uterus by the extract. Between doses of 1-4 g/kg, the water extract of M. cecropioides was observed to be well tolerated in mice as no obvious signs of toxicity were observed on the animal

Population-level risks of alcohol consumption by amount, geography, age, sex, and year: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2020

Background The health risks associated with moderate alcohol consumption continue to be debated. Small amounts of alcohol might lower the risk of some health outcomes but increase the risk of others, suggesting that the overall risk depends, in part, on background disease rates, which vary by region, age, sex, and year. Methods For this analysis, we constructed burden-weighted dose–response relative risk curves across 22 health outcomes to estimate the theoretical minimum risk exposure level (TMREL) and non-drinker equivalence (NDE), the consumption level at which the health risk is equivalent to that of a non-drinker, using disease rates from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2020 for 21 regions, including 204 countries and territories, by 5-year age group, sex, and year for individuals aged 15–95 years and older from 1990 to 2020. Based on the NDE, we quantified the population consuming harmful amounts of alcohol. Findings The burden-weighted relative risk curves for alcohol use varied by region and age. Among individuals aged 15–39 years in 2020, the TMREL varied between 0 (95% uncertainty interval 0–0) and 0·603 (0·400–1·00) standard drinks per day, and the NDE varied between 0·002 (0–0) and 1·75 (0·698–4·30) standard drinks per day. Among individuals aged 40 years and older, the burden-weighted relative risk curve was J-shaped for all regions, with a 2020 TMREL that ranged from 0·114 (0–0·403) to 1·87 (0·500–3·30) standard drinks per day and an NDE that ranged between 0·193 (0–0·900) and 6·94 (3·40–8·30) standard drinks per day. Among individuals consuming harmful amounts of alcohol in 2020, 59·1% (54·3–65·4) were aged 15–39 years and 76·9% (73·0–81·3) were male. Interpretation There is strong evidence to support recommendations on alcohol consumption varying by age and location. Stronger interventions, particularly those tailored towards younger individuals, are needed to reduce the substantial global health loss attributable to alcohol. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITIES OF THE VOLATILE OIL AND AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF MURRAYA KOENIGII LEAVES

The volatile oil of Murraya keonigii was active against Staphylococcus epidemidis, S. aureus, and Streptococcus specie while the aqueous extract was not active Key Words: Murraya koenigii, Rutaceae, antibacterial activity Nig. J. Nat. Prod. And Med. Vol.2 1998: 44-4

Growth Inhibitory and Cytotoxic Effects of the Methanol Extracts of Ficus Exasperata Vahl (Moraceae) Root Bark

Ficus exasperata is a medicinal plant characterized by its coarse and abrasive simple leaves. In ethnomedicine, the root bark is used in treating tumor related ailments. The cytotoxic and anti-proliferative effects of the methanol extract of the root bark and its organic solvent fractions were examined using the tadpoles of Raniceps ranninus and radicle length of guinea corn Sorghum bicolor seeds respectively. The methanol extract showed significant concentration dependent toxicity on the tadpoles as the percentage mortality of 56.67±1.23 obtained at a concentration 10µg/ml was increased to 100 at 20 µg/ml. The chloroform and the aqueous fractions did not show remarkable effects although 100% mortality was obtained at 80 µg/ml with the chloroform fraction. The crude extract gave an LC50 of 8.67µg/ml while the aqueous and chloroform fractions produced LC50 values of 57.33 and 28.67 µg/ml respectively. The extract significantly (P<0.01) reduced the radicle length of the seeds treated with 0.5-4 mg/ml of the extract throughout the 96h incubation period. At 96h, the control seeds produced average length of 51.4 ± 2.72 mm while the seeds treated with 2 and 4 mg/ml had average lengths of 42.2 ± 1.63 and 31.8 + 2.71 mm respectively. The aqueous fraction was more effective than the chloroform fraction as it produced 47.56% reductions in radicle lengths compared with the controls. The results suggest the probable use of the plant in treating tumor related ailments and purification did not enhance activity

Phytochemical and Antibacterial Evaluations of the Stem Bark of Newbouldia laevis against Isolates from Infected Wounds and Eyes

Purpose: To examine the phytochemical constituents and verify the ethnomedical claim of Newbouldia laevis (P.Beauv.) Seeman ex Bureau Bignoniaceae in treating septic wounds and eye problems. Methods: Applying standard methods, the phytochemical constituents of the stem bark were examined while the antibacterial potentials of the methanol extract of the stem bark and its organic solvent fractions were tested on clinical bacterial isolates from infected wounds and eyes using the agar -well diffusion method. Ciprofloxacin and gentamicin were used as standard controls. The time-kill kinetics of the methanol stem bark extract and ciprofloxacin were determined using isolates of Staphyloccocus aureus . Results: Phytochemical screening of the stem bark revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, saponins and alkaloids with no traces of cyanogenic glycosides. The 65 bacterial pathogens isolated included Proteus mirabilis (26.0 %) and Pseudomonas aeurginosa (17.4 %) from non-diabetic patients’ wounds; Staphylococcus aureus (32.0 %) and Escherichia coli (16.0%) from diabetic patients’ wounds; Staphylococcus aureus (35.3%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (35.3 %) from infected eyes. The chloroform fraction was observed to be more active on Gram-negative organisms while the aqueous fraction was more active on Gram-positive organisms. Time-kill kinetics of Staphylococcus aureus showed that the extract was bactericidal (99.9 % killing) at MIC and 2 x MIC after 24 and 3 hours, respectively. Conclusion: The study has established that the stem bark of Newbouldia laevis has antibacterial activities against bacterial isolates from infected wounds and eyes as claimed in ethnomedicinal practice

Pharmacognostic Characteristics and Hypotensive Effect of the Stem Bark of Musanga cecropioides R. Br. (Moraceae)

Musanga cecropioides (Umbrella tree) is a plant reported to have oxytocic, hypotensive and antidiabetic activities. Pharmacognostic evaluation to establish the identity of the stem bark, as well as experiments to determine the possible pharmacological mechanism of its hypotensive effects, were carried out. Microscopically, the stem bark was observed to contain cork cells, cortical parenchyma, sclereids, fibers, vessels and calcium oxalate crystals. It had a moisture content of 3.68±0.06%, ash value of 10.38±0.12% while the alcohol and water extractive values were 1.29±0.02% and 1.10±0.13%, respectively. It contains saponins, tannins and flavonoids. The water extract of the stem bark produced a dose – related reduction in mean arterial pressure. The mean arterial pressure fell by 4.51±0.5mmHg at 10mg/kg and 65.23±6.28mmHg at 40mg/kg. The hypotensive effect of the extract was not affected by prior administration of either atropine (0.5mg/kg) or promethazine (0.25mg/kg). The extract had no direct effect on the intrinsic myogenic activity of the isolated rat portal vein. However, at 1.0mg/ml, the water extract remarkably reduced both the amplitude and force of contraction of isolated rabbit heart. The hypotensive effect of the extract therefore appears not to be due to a direct vascular effect but due to its effect on cardiac output as a result of inhibition of cardiac activity. Key Words: Musanga cecropioides, sterm bark, hypotensive effect. Résumé Musanga cecropioides (Umbrella tree) est une plante repotée ayant des activitées oxytociques ,hypotensives et anti-diabetiques. L'evaluation pharmacognocsique pour determiner l'identitée de l'écorce souche de même que des experiences pour déterminer le possible mechanisme pharmacologique de son effet hypotenseur on été conduits. Microscopiquement l'ecorce a été observé contenir : cellule cork , parenchyma corticaux,scleroid, vaiseaux,et des crystaux d' oxalate de calcium. Il a une teneur en humidité de 3.68±0.06%, une valeur ash de10.38±0.12% alors que la valeur extrative de l'alcool et de l'eau étaient de 1.29±0.02% and 1.10±0.13% respectivement. Il contient de la sapponine, tannine et la flavonoide. Les extrait acqueux de l'ecorce produsirent une reduction de la pression arterielle moyenne et ce à dose-dependente. la pression arterielle moyenne tombait de 4.51±0.5mmHg à 10mg/kg et 65.23±6.28mmHg à 40mm/kg. L'effet hypotenseur de l'extrait n' était pas affecté par une primo administration soit de l' atropine (0.5mg/kg) ou promethazine (0.25mg/kg). L'extrait n'a eu aucun effet direct sur l'activitée myogenique intrisique des veines portal de souris isolée. Néanmoins à 1.0mg/ml, l'extrait acqueux a reduit remarquablement en même temps l' amplitude et la force de contraction des Coeur de lapin isoles. L'effet hypotenseur de l'extrait apparait donc ne pas être due à un effet vasculaire direct mais probablement due à son effet sur le quantite de sangs pompée par le Coeur ce comme resultat de l inihibation de l'activité cardiaque Mot cles: Musanga cecropioides, ecorce souche, effet hypoteseur. West Afr. J. Pharmacol. Drug Res. Vol.19 (1&2) 2003: 37-4

A typological approach to testing the evolutionary functions of human female orgasm

Building on previous work that identified different types of orgasm in women (King, Belsky, Mah, & Binik, 2011), the goal of the present study was to extend such typological work and determine whether female orgasmic variability tracked potentially evolutionarily salient sexual partner characteristics (e.g., those displaying possible immune-system compatibility). A total of 265 females completed an Internet survey about their orgasmic experience—achieved either with partners or alone. For partnered orgasms, they also provided details of partner characteristics and sexual behaviors. Latent class analysis revealed two orgasm types which were meaningfully distinguishable in terms of sensations and location—either centered on the surface of genitalia or deep inside. Deep orgasms were associated with internal sensations consistent with proposed functions of female orgasm in terms of differential sperm insuck. Such orgasms were associated with partners who were perceived as considerate, dominant, with a noticeably attractive smell, and as providing firm penetration. However, some hypothesized reproductively significant partner characteristics were not differentially associated with deep orgasms (i.e., muscularity, aggression, masculinity). Results were discussed and future research directions outlined. In particular, it is suggested that sexual passion between partners is a non-accidental component of sexual functioning and that this has too frequently been missing in sex research involving humans. Direct physiological measures of the results of female orgasm need to be undertaken. Additionally, the intriguing phenomenon of female ejaculation deserves scientific attention